Other News

In the UK alternative energy company Local Generation has started building its first anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in March, Cambridgeshire. The plant will convert 30,000 tonnes annually of both packaged and unpackaged food waste into renewable energy and will be fully operational later in 2011. Nick Waterman, Local Generation's director, says: 'This is an exciting time for the Local Generation…
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In Bangladesh, state-owned Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) is investing $500 million (€358.96 million) in a project that will provide renewable power for the nation's isolated villages. The project will see the development of 5MW biomass-fired power plants, 3MW biomass-based power generators and solar home systems (SHSs). 'We have requested the Economic Relations Division…
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Biogas company EnviTec Biogas of Lohne, Germany, has signed a contract, which will see it expand internationally into the Spanish market. The contract, which was signed in February 2011, will see EnviTec build three biogas plants in Spain. EnviTec has established a wholly owned subsidiary in Bilbao, Spain, which will serve the company's customers in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. The first…
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FTJ Bio Power Sdn Bhd, a 60:40 joint venture between Malaysian agro-based enterprise Felda Global Group and Malaysia's energy provider Tenaga Nasional Bhd, respectively, has been set up. The new JV will invest RM120 million (€28.58 million) to construct a new power generation plant, which will produce electricity from 100% oil palm empty fruit branches (EFB). The facility is due to break…
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In the US, Dalton, Massachusetts-based Crane & Co. is looking to build a $75 million (€54.2 million) biomass plant. Crane & Co. is a manufacturer of paper products used in the printing of national currencies, among other products. The company supplies paper to the federal government on a four-year basis, but as the government looks for all of its contractors to adopt green…
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A former ethanol production facility in Heyburn, Idaho, US, could soon be home to three individual businesses after Natural Chem Holdings acquired it for $2.4 million (€1.7 million) from Renova Energy, when the ethanol company filed for bankruptcy back in 2008. Under Natural Chem's ownership, a new biogas plant will be built on the site, which will transport natural gas to states located to…
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A renewable energy plant has received governmental approval, despite the application being refused 12 months ago. Proposed by technology provider W4B for Avonmouth, Bristol, in the UK, the plant will utilise palm oil for the production of biopower. This did not sit well with critics and the plant was slammed for using a fuel which contributes to rainforest deforestation. The power station was…
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The UK government has been advised to not alter its 57% carbon emissions reduction, despite the call for more ambitious action by the Paris climate agreement. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC), a government climate watchdog, made its latest recommendations for the UK’s fifth carbon budget in a letter sent to Energy Secretary Amber Rudd. In the letter, the CCC repeated its recommendation…
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Manufacturer of processed biomass Enviva has acquired a port terminal in Chesapeake, Virginia, US. The purchase will help Enviva satisfy the growing demand for renewable energy feedstock overseas, primarily Europe. The terminal was formerly owned by Giant Cement Company. Under Enviva's ownership the terminal will receive, store and load more than three million tonnes a year of sustainably…
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In a bid to reduce the cost of energy bills, cutting tool manufacturer Simonds International, headquartered in Fitchburg in Massachusetts, US, is to install a combined heat and power (CHP) congeneration plant to generate electricity and thermal power. After deciding to install a 100% modular all-in-one and connection-ready congeneration system to save costs and reduce technical risk, Simonds…
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Two biomass-fired power plants in California, US, have been fined a combined total of $835,000 (€610,165). Ampersand Chowchilla Biomass and Merced Power received the penalty after a joint investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District found that the two facilities violated the Clean Air Act and district rules. These…
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Helius Corde, the joint venture of biomass energy development company Helius Energy and The Combination of Rothes Distillers has received conformation of credit approval from both Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland for a non-resource project finance credit facility. Under the approval, the two banks will provide up to 75% of the total funding requirement for the construction and…
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In the Northeast of the US forest biomass has the potential to replace one quarter of liquid fossil fuels currently used in both industrial and commercial heating applications, according to a report released by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Forestry waste can provide an alternative to fossil-based energy sources, create local jobs and provide incentives to forest owners. Nevertheless,…
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DeltaPoint Capital Management, a financial company based in Rochester, New York, US, has acquired its second biomass plant in seven months. DeltaPoint bought wood pellet manufacturer Dry Creek Products for an undisclosed sum, but the purchase was aided by a $3.2 million (€2.4 million) investment by the New York state pension fund. In July 2010 DeltaPoint set up Biomaxx, a holding company for…
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